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(No Model. r S O. A. SMITH.

SELF ADJUSTING WATCH KEY.

Patented J1me 12,1883.

INVENTOR %M x. M BY ATTORNEY WITNESSES N PFIERs PbmbLhhognphcr. Washington, )X'a UNITE STATES PATENT 1 OF ICE.

GURTISA. SMITH, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT GARLQ OF SAME PLACE.

SELF-ADJUSTING W ATCH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.279,196, dated June 12, 1883,

Application filed April 23, 1883.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CURTIS A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, resid-' ing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Adjusting WVatch- Keys, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of watch-keys arranged to fit different sizes of winding-arbors in watches and to be self-adjusting; and it consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinaf ter described and specifically claimed.

- In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved watch-key; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3, an elevation of the jaws detached; Figs. 4 and 5, elevations of the watch-key, its exterior case being removed; Fig. 6, the coupling device of the two sections of the clamp and spring-tube developed; and Fig. 7 is an end view of the watch-key.

Corresponding letters in the several figures of the drawings designate like parts.

A denotes the case, which is a true ,cylindrical tube, having a partially-fluted surface.

for a finger-hold. Into this case A is snugly fitted a cylindrical tube, composed of two sections, B and B, which are coupled or halved together by a hook-joint, a, so as 'to enable their being readily taken apart andput together again, and when-thus put together to form a rigid connection. The section B of this tube is closed at its extremity b, and the section B is contracted at its end 0 to bear upon the projecting conical portion of the jaws C G,

that form the forceps or watch-key point.

same.

These jaws O C, have each a V-groove, that from opposite sides snugly fit and grasp the squared winding-arbor, and are formed in one piecewith the cylindrical shank D, and with an intermediate circular spring, d, that tends to open the jaws and yields to contracting the The shank D of jaws G O is snugly fitted into tube B, and is secured to the case A by a pin, 6, passed through a hole in shank.

D and case A, and through longitudinal slots f in tube-section B in a manner that jaws C C such arbor.

(No model.)

between the fore and middle finger, and thenv by pressing with the thumb upon the proj ecting closed end of tube B the jaws O G will be released and will be opened by their spring (I, and now by placing the jaws over the windingarbor and then releasing tube B the jaws will be tightened upon the windingarbor by the action of spring E, and will retain their hold during the winding operation and until released by depressing the head of tube B again.

For putting this watch-key together, I first insert the jaws O G with their shank D into tube-section B, and the spring E into tubesection B, and then I lock the hook-joints of the two sections BB together. Next I slide the case A over the tube B B and insert the pin e into'the holes of shank D and case A, when the key is ready for use.

This watch-key is applied to or detached from the winding-arbor of a watch with great ease and without causing an end pressure to ing the operation of winding up the watch, and while not used its jaws are closed, so as not to be clogged between their joints by dust or other matter, as is the case with self-adjusting watch-keys that have open jaws to be closed only for grasping the arbor;

The device in its construction and arrangement is simple and convenient, and is not liable to be broken or get out of order.

This watch-key has the advantage that for grasping larger winding arbors of heavy watches the jaws project less from out the con tracted mouth of tube B, so as to be exposed to less lateral strain, and that only for grasping the smaller winding-arbors of light watches the jaws project proportionally more.

What I claim is- 1. In a self-adjusting watch-key, the conical jaws O 0, connected by circular spring (Z with It is self-holding to the arbor dur- IOO 2 ame shank D, that is secured to case A by pin 0, in combination with sliding tube 13, adapted to contract such jaws, substantially in the man ner set forth.

2. In a self-adjusting watchhey, in eon1bination with the conical jaws O O, the sliding clamp-tube B B, formed of two sections that are detachably united by a hook-j oint, a, substantially in the manner set forth.

3. r In a self-adjusting Watch-key, the case A and shank D, rigidly coupled by apin, c, and such shank D having connected by spring (I the conical jaws O C, in combination with tube B B and spring E, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as 15' set forth.

4. A self-adjusting Watch-key, consisting of case A, rigidly secured by pin a with the shank D of conical jaws O G, the tube B B, connected by hook-joint a and having slots f, and spring E, all constructed and arranged sub stantially as described, to operate as specified. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CURTIS A. SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

EDWARD C. LoynLL, JOHN MITCHELL. 

